Scottish Executive

Air Services

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the European Commission regarding its investigation into subsidies received by Ryanair to use Charleroi Airport.

Nicol Stephen: No discussions have been held between the Executive and the European Commission about the subsidies received by Ryanair to use Charleroi Airport. The Commission’s investigation relates to matters in Belgium which are outwith the jurisdiction of the Executive and the Scottish ministers.

Air Services

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made the European Commission aware of the economic importance of Ryanair's Prestwick to Charleroi route to Ayrshire and Scotland as a whole.

Nicol Stephen: No discussions have been held between the Executive and the European Commission about the effect on the Scottish economy of Ryanair’s Glasgow Prestwick-Charleroi route. The Commission’s investigation does not relate to the economic importance of air services operated by Ryanair but relates to the support given by the Belgian authorities in respect of Charleroi Airport.

Air Services

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has assessed the demand for improved services from Wick Airport.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish ministers own Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) which is responsible for helping to develop new business opportunities from its airports. Regular discussions are held with airlines about the commencement of new routes but it is for airlines themselves to take advantage of commercial opportunities.

  HIAL offers discounts on landing charges for new services; and the Executive’s Interim Route Development Fund can invest in new air services from the Highlands and Islands to destinations outwith Scotland.

Anti-Social Behaviour

Rosie Kane (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates, and to which locations, ministers have undertaken visits to Scottish communities to discuss the issue of anti-social behaviour since 2003 and whether it will make available transcripts or notes from any such visits.

Rosie Kane (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations assisted in the organisation of, or facilitated, community meetings held since June 2003 in relation to the consultation on anti-social behaviour.

Rosie Kane (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates, and in which venues, meetings were called on community participation in the consultation process in relation to anti-social behaviour since June 2003; who the (a) platform speakers and (b) facilitators were at any such meetings; how many people attended each meeting, and what procedures were followed to ensure that such meetings were widely advertised and accessible to individuals across a broad cross-section of the community.

Ms Margaret Curran: Ministers visited Scottish communities to discuss anti-social behaviour at the invitation of local MSPs, who organised, facilitated and advertised the visits. A table showing locations and dates follows. The number of people attending varied from meeting to meeting. In order to encourage the free and uninhibited expression of views and personal experiences of local people, it was agreed that the notes taken of the meetings would not be published, but would help inform the consultation process. The notes were therefore made available to the University of Glasgow researchers who produced the report on consultation responses published last week. That report contains a summary of views expressed during constituency visits, copies of which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 29683).

  In addition to ministerial visits, the Executive funded Youthlink to carry out its own consultation event with young people across Scotland to explore their views on the proposals contained in the consultation. The Executive also funded the Scottish Civic Forum to hold six community events across Scotland. Organisation, facilitation and advertisement of these events were carried out by the organisation concerned.

  

 Location
 Date


 Aberdeen
 12 August


 Aberdeen North
 12 August


 Ayr
 29 August


 Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley
 29 August


 Central Fife
 14 August


 Clydebank/Milngavie
 14 July


 Cromarty*
 27 August


 Cumbernauld and Kilsyth
 5 August


 Cunninghame North
 17 July


 Dumbarton
 25 August


 Dumfries*
 4 September


 Dunfermline East
 14 August


 Dunfermline West
 14 August


 Edinburgh South
 26 June and 2 September


 Eastwood
 2 September


 Falkirk East
 21 August


 Glasgow*
 27 August


 Glasgow Maryhill
 3 September


 Glasgow Rutherglen
 2 September


 Glasgow Springburn
 2 September


 Galloway and Upper Nithsdale
 7 August


 Gordon
 9 September


 Granton on Spey*
 2 September


 Greenock/Inverclyde
 17 July


 Kirkcaldy
 14 August


 Linlithgow
 5 September


 Midlothian
 8 September


 Newarthill*
 26 August


 North Tayside
 14 August


 Ochil
 15 July


 Paisley North
 29 August


 Paisley South
 21 August


 Ross, Syke and Inverness West
 20 August


 Stirling
 13 August


 Tweeddale, Ettrick and Launderdale
 24 July


 Wishaw*
 28 August


 Youthlink event
 30 August



  * Scottish Civic Forum events.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it is providing to help asylum seekers evicted from local authority accommodation under asylum legislation.

Ms Margaret Curran: Issues relating to support for asylum seekers are the responsibility of the Home Office. Failed asylum seekers evicted from their National Asylum Support Service accommodation are not eligible to receive support under asylum legislation.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will rehouse asylum seekers evicted from local authority accommodation under asylum legislation.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that asylum seekers evicted from local authority accommodation under asylum legislation do not become roofless.

Ms Margaret Curran: Issues relating to support for asylum seekers are the responsibility of the Home Office. Failed asylum seekers are not eligible for assistance under the homelessness legislation.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many asylum seekers have been evicted from local authority accommodation in each of the last two years.

Ms Margaret Curran: This information is not held centrally.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that its obligations to the children of asylum seekers evicted from local authority accommodation are met.

Ms Margaret Curran: Issues relating to the support for asylum seekers are a matter for the Home Office. However, I understand that asylum seekers with children are not being evicted from their National Asylum Support Service accommodation.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether asylum seekers evicted from local authority accommodation are removed from the responsibility of local authorities, under section 122(5) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Ms Margaret Curran: This issue of support for asylum seekers is a matter for the Home Office. However, I understand that section 122(5) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 relates to support for children of asylum seekers. Families with children and people with special needs are not being evicted from their National Asylum Support Service accommodation and the issue of local authority responsibility does not arise.

Autism

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children with autism there were in (a) 1992-93 and (b) 2002-03, broken down by NHS board area.

Mr Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-4267 on 5 December 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search/wa

Birds

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to develop best practice for local authorities and others in dealing with nuisance caused by pigeons in towns and cities.

Allan Wilson: There are currently no plans to develop best practice guidance in relation to feral pigeons. The Scottish Executive is not aware of an increasing problem concerning feral pigeons and local authorities have adequate powers to resolve problems which they experience. If Environmental Health representatives believe there is a pressing need to address this issue Executive officials will be happy to meet with them.

Caledonian MacBrayne

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3580 by Nicol Stephen on 19 November 2003, when it expects Caledonian MacBrayne to report on the current review of future options related to peak fares on routes where these apply and whether the findings of the review will be made public.

Nicol Stephen: I am considering the findings of the CalMac peak fares review and I will make an announcement this month.

Child Care

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the details of how it intends to spend the £20 million funding announced as part of its budget for 2003-06, to help to ensure that child care is not a barrier to disadvantaged people in deprived communities engaging with work, training or education.

Ms Margaret Curran: I am announcing today full details of the allocation of the £20 million Working for Families fund. This will be distributed to the 10 selected local authorities as outlined in the following table:

  

 Area
 £ million p.a.
 No. children 
  (under 16) in families dependent on JSA/IS (thousands)


 Glasgow
 2.5
 40.8


 North Lanarkshire
 1.5
 15.0


 Renfrewshire
 1.0
 7.2


 Dundee City 
 1.0
 6.9


 North Ayrshire 
 1.0
 6.2


 Highland 
 0.6
 5.8


 East Ayrshire 
 0.6
 5.5


 West Dunbartonshire 
 0.6
 4.5


 Inverclyde
 0.6
 4.3


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0.6
 3.8


 Total
 10 
 100



  Funds have been allocated to local authorities with the highest levels of parents in need of support towards employment. The resources are being distributed to authorities where there are more than 3,000 children of claimants of income-based jobseekers allowance and income support (JSA/IS) and children in these circumstances form more than 20% of the under 16 population. Resources are banded according to the numbers of children in the circumstances set out above.

  The fund has been extended to cover the two highest ranking rural authorities where rurality is defined as areas where more than 40% of the population live in settlements of less than 3,000 people.

Civil Service

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs it expects to relocate under its policy of civil service job dispersal.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive is determined to ensure that public sector posts and the benefits they bring are dispersed across Scotland.

  There are around 1,900 public sector posts covered in reviews announced to date where decisions have yet to be reached. The Executive does not set targets for the number of jobs to be dispersed. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis taking into account the nature of each body under review.

Civil Service

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what timetable it has set for the relocation of its departments and agencies.

Tavish Scott: Each relocation review is considered on a case-by-case basis. When the annual relocation announcement is made detailing the bodies being brought within the scope of the relocation policy, a projected date for a location decision, on each of the bodies, is set out.

Civil Service

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its departments and agencies are to be considered for relocation.

Tavish Scott: Relocation reviews for public bodies covered by the Scottish Executive’s dispersal policy are triggered by the creation of a new unit or agency, the merging or restructuring of existing units or where a significant property break point is reached, such as the termination of an existing lease.

  The last announcement of bodies coming into the relocation programme was made in December 2002, (ref. S1W-32492). I expect a further announcement to be made shortly.

Civil Service

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why Midlothian has not featured on any shortlists for relocation of its departments and agencies.

Tavish Scott: Shortlists for relocation are compiled by the bodies themselves, and will be drawn from a list of areas scoring highly against appraisal criteria. The criteria used to draw up shortlists can vary but will include socio-economic factors, business efficiency, sustainable transport links and property availability/suitability.

Civil Service

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in respect of which of its departments and agencies a final decision has been made on relocation, stating in each case which location has been chosen.

Tavish Scott: The following table provides details of the Executive’s departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies in respect of which final relocation decisions have been made together with details of the final location.

  

 Organisation
 No. of Posts
 Stage of Review
 Locations


 Enterprise Transport and Lifelong 
  Learning Department
 160

 Decided 1999
 Glasgow


 Food Standards Agency
 45
 Decided 1999
 Aberdeen


 Public Guardian's Office
 40
 Decided 2000
 Falkirk


 Scottish Social Services Council 
  and Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care
Plus six regional offices
 160

 
 
240
 Decided 2001
 Dundee 

 
 
Aberdeen, Musselburgh, Paisley, Hamilton, Inverness and 
  Dundee


 Scottish Public Pensions Agency
 175
 Decided 2001
 Galashiels


 Scottish Water HQ
 50 +
 Decided 2001
 Dunfermline


 Office of the Scottish Charity 
  Regulator
 20-30
 Decided 2003
 Dundee


 Scottish Natural Heritage
 268
 Decided 2003
 Inverness


 Common Services Agency
Phase 1
 
Phase 2
 
50
80
45
60
 Decided 2003

  
Aberdeen
Glasgow
Still to be decided
Still to be decided


 Scottish Executive Inquiry 
  Reporters' Unit
 26
 Decided 2003
 Falkirk


 Forest Enterprise (Scotland)
 20
 Decided 2003
 Inverness and Dumfries


 Her Majesty's Inspectorate 
  of Education
2 additional offices
 60

 
24
 Decided 2003
 Livingston

 
Dunbartonshire and Ayrshire


 Risk Management Authority
 20
 Decided 2003
 Paisley

Council Tax

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the statistical correlation is between a household’s income level and the council tax band of the property resided in.

Tavish Scott: The following table gives, for each council tax band, the estimated percentage of households in each household income band. For example, an estimated 32% of households occupying a Band A dwelling have a gross household income of £150 or less per week, excluding any council tax benefit income.

  The council tax band occupied by a household, however, does not equate directly to the council tax bill. Many households with low incomes will qualify for council tax benefit, and will therefore pay little or no council tax from their gross income.

  Gross Household Income Excluding Council Tax Benefit (£ Per Week)

  

 
 Up 
  to 150
 150 
  to 300
 300 
  to 450
 450 
  to 600
 600 
  to 750
 Over 
  750
 Total


 Council 
  Tax Band
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Band 
  A
 32
 42
 12
 7
 4
 3
 100


 Band 
  B
 20
 36
 20
 12
 6
 6
 100


 Band 
  C
 13
 26
 21
 17
 12
 11
 100


 Band 
  D
 8
 21
 20
 17
 15
 20
 100


 Band 
  E
 6
 14
 15
 13
 17
 34
 100


 Band 
  F
 13
 11
 14
 15
 47
 100


 Band 
  G & H
 9
 9
 10
 10
 62
 100



  Note: The percentage of households in each cell has been estimated using data from the Family Resources Survey aggregated over three years. Where the sample size is insufficient to allow confident estimation, cells have been merged. The income figures reported are gross household income from all sources less any income received as council tax benefit. Percentages are reported to the nearest whole number and may not sum to 100% due to rounding.

Economy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what Scottish GDP would currently be had it increased at the same rate as the UK average since 1997.

Mr Jim Wallace: Based on the latest data available from the Office for National Statistics for the value of Scottish Gross Value Added (GVA), if Scottish growth had matched the UK average (excluding extra-regio) between 1997 and 2001, the estimated level of Scottish GVA in 2001 would have been £73.4 billion.

Economy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the additional value, compared with the actual value, of Scottish GDP would be had its GDP grown at the same rate as the UK average since 1999.

Mr Jim Wallace: Based on the latest data available from the Office for National Statistics for the value of Scottish gross value added (GVA), if Scottish growth had matched the UK average (excluding extra-regio) between 1999 and 2001, the level of GVA in 2001 would have been £1.5 billion higher than the actual estimate of £69.2 billion.

Education

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated expenditure required to achieve its performance targets for reducing class sizes is, in each of the next three years, and how much of this expenditure has been allocated, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) primary and secondary education target.

Peter Peacock: Funding of £29 million and £49 million for 2004-05 and 2005-06 respectively was included in the draft Scottish Budget published on 16 September 2003 for additional teachers and the Spark project. Funding for future years will be agreed in the forthcoming spending review. Existing funding has yet to be allocated to local authorities, since employment costs will not arise until new teachers have been trained and are fully qualified. Even once allocations are agreed with local authorities, a precise split between primary and secondary costs may not be possible, since one of the aims of the overall partnership commitment on teacher numbers is to break down barriers between primary and secondary teaching.

Education

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for class sizes and what its performance against such targets has been to date.

Peter Peacock: The partnership agreement for a Better Scotland (PABS) contains a commitment significantly to increase teacher numbers to 53,000 by 2007. These additional teachers will be targeted on reducing class sizes to a maximum of 20 in S1/S2 for Maths and English, 25 in P1 and increasing the number of visiting specialists working across the boundary between secondary and primary.

  As a start to training the additional teachers required funding was provided for 200 additional places on the primary postgraduate certificate in education course in session 2003-04.

  Further substantial increases in initial teacher education intakes in 2004-05 and subsequent years will be required to meet the PABS commitments. These are currently being considered as part of the annual teacher workforce planning exercise which will culminate in guidance to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council. The council expect to announce target intakes to courses of initial teacher education in February.

Electricity

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the rise in the number of disconnections by energy suppliers due to debt from 40 disconnections in 2001 to 458 disconnections in the first half of 2003.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The legislation and regulation of the energy sector is a reserved matter and the question of disconnections is one for the electricity supply companies. I am, however, concerned at how the supply companies are operating in Scotland in regard to the recent increase in disconnections.

Energy

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to explore the potential of "combi fuel".

Lewis Macdonald: Our policy is to encourage a wide fuel mix in order to meet future energy needs.

  Grant assistance is currently available for growing short rotation coppice under the woodland grant scheme and the new Scottish forestry grants scheme. Both schemes are managed by the Forestry Commission.

  Under the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) Order 2002, the organic component of a combi fuel would qualify for renewable obligation certificates.

Environment

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3369 by Ross Finnie on 5 November 2003, whether it will provide details of the abatement notice.

Ross Finnie: No.

  Abatement notices are served by local authorities under section 80 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Equal Opportunities

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote awareness among all employers of the coming into force on 2 December 2003 of the Employment Equality (Religion and Belief) Regulations 2003.

Mr Jim Wallace: Responsibility for equal opportunities, including the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003, is reserved and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is the lead.

  Information and guidance is available from DTI to allow employers in England, Scotland and Wales to familiarise themselves with the legislation.

  Scottish Enterprise has provided information on the new regulations covering religion and belief to all of its business advisers and business clients. The Highlands and Islands equality forum has been tasked with engaging the private sector on all aspects of equality legislation and good practice issues.

Exam Results

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will address underperformance in Scottish Qualifications Authority exams amongst pupils from areas with the highest poverty levels.

Peter Peacock: The National Priorities in Education and the school improvement framework are the vehicles through which we work with education authorities and schools to seek improvement in educational outcomes for all pupils. As part of the drive for improvement, all publicly funded secondary schools have set targets for exam performance for 2005.

  We recognise that there are particular barriers that can prevent pupils who live in areas of high deprivation from achieving their potential in exam performance. A number of policy initiatives seek to offer support that will help to overcome these barriers. These include Surestart, integrated community schools and programmes for study support, among others. The curriculum review and the increase in opportunities for those who wish to pursue vocational qualifications are also important developments focused on addressing underperfomance. There is an additional allowance of around £50 million within the local government settlement to cover education deprivation.

Farming

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce top-up grants to encourage the growing of energy crops.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme (SFGS) currently grant aids short rotation coppice at £600 per hectare for non set-aside land and £400 per hectare for set-aside land. The scheme is under constant review and specific elements of the SFGS including the grants available for short rotation coppice may be reviewed from time to time.

  Enhancing biomass is a strand of the Scottish Executive’s Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture. The Executive is currently consulting on the common agricultural policy (CAP) reform package and the flexibilities available within it. From 2004 there will be a provision within CAP for a new subsidy payment of €45 per hectare per year, available for energy crops on land other than set aside.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the conclusions were of any research into the impact on white fish stocks of the ban on sandeel fishing in the Wee Bankie.

Ross Finnie: There is no conclusive evidence yet of any impact of the Wee Bankie closure on sandeels or other whitefish.

  The European Commission, with the support of the Scottish Executive, has proposed that the Wee Bankie area closure continue for a further three years to allow for more scientific monitoring of the closure and its effects.

  This research will seek to determine how effective the closure is at protecting the local sandeel population and all sandeel predator species, including haddock and seabirds. Once this three-year monitoring programme has been completed, the results will be assessed and a decision taken on whether to make the closure permanent.

Fisheries

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is of fitting satellite monitoring equipment to fishing vessels below 24 metres in length.

Ross Finnie: Costs are likely to vary depending on individual vessel circumstances. However it is estimated that the average costs of purchasing and installing terminals on board vessels will be in the range £2,500 to £3,000.

Fisheries

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fishing vessels of 18 to 24 metres in length will be required to fit satellite monitoring equipment.

Ross Finnie: Around 170.

Fisheries

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what grants will be made available for fishing vessel owners to fit satellite monitoring equipment; what the criteria will be for receiving such grants, and what the value of such grants will be.

Ross Finnie: In December 2002 the Council of Ministers decided that satellite monitoring for Community fishing vessels over 24 metres should be extended, first to vessels over 18 metres from 1 January 2004 and then to vessels over 15 metres from 1 January 2005. Detailed rules subsequently adopted by the European Commission in October 2003 require member states to take measures to ensure that satellite tracking devices fitted to fishing vessels do not permit the input or output of false positions and are not capable of being over-ridden.

  To secure the maximum enforcement benefit from vessel monitoring systems it has been decided that tracking devices fitted to UK fishing vessels should be fully "tamper proof" and dedicated to position reporting.

  Since such terminals may not be used by vessel owners or masters for business purposes, and subject to parliamentary approval the Executive has decided to meet the costs of fitting tamper proof terminals to those UK registered vessels for which it is the licensing authority. It is proposed that vessel owners will be able to reclaim from the department the costs (excluding VAT) of purchasing and installing compliant equipment. The arrangements will be time limited. They will apply to existing vessels and those that join the fleet before 31 December 2004.

  The actual cost of terminals has yet to be determined but, including fitting and warranty, is expected to be between £2,500 and £3,000 per vessel. It is expected that around 480 vessels will be equipped with tamper proof terminals, hopefully by the end of 2004, at an overall cost of around £1.4 million.

Fisheries

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what running costs are associated with satellite monitoring equipment for fishing vessels and who will be responsible for the various elements of such costs.

Ross Finnie: Running costs relate essentially to the costs of required transmission reports. It is estimated these are likely to be between £250 and £500 per annum, depending on whether a vessel has to report hourly (as required if fishing in Norwegian waters) or two hourly.

  It is intended that transmission costs are met by industry, with the department meeting the costs of purchasing and installing on vessels terminals which comply with agreed specifications.

Forensic Science

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3412 by Cathy Jamieson on 12 November 2003, when the Glasgow fingerprint bureau was certified as competent to the ISO 9001: 2000 standard.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Fingerprint Service Glasgow Bureau was certified to ISO9000 in December 2000. The ISO standard was upgraded to ISO9001:2000 in 2002 and the Glasgow Bureau was accredited to ISO9001:2000 in December 2002.

Forensic Science

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3412 by Cathy Jamieson on 12 November 2003, when, and by whom, the fingerprint experts in the Glasgow fingerprint bureau have been subject to external annual competency testing and what the criterion is for such testing.

Cathy Jamieson: The fingerprint experts in the Scottish Fingerprint Service (SFS) Glasgow Bureau have been subject to annual external competency testing since 2001. It is mandatory for all fingerprint experts in the SFS Glasgow bureau to undertake the competency testing annually.

  The tests are conducted by collaborative testing service, a USA-based forensic testing service.

Forensic Science

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3412 by Cathy Jamieson on 12 November 2003, what the procedures are in the Glasgow fingerprint bureau.

Cathy Jamieson: The procedures, which are ISO9001:2000 accredited, referred to in the Glasgow Bureau on quality management procedures. These are contained in: the quality assurance manual; the process and procedures manual; local work instructions and forms and records

  The procedures relate to all the processes involved in the identification systems and control services supplied by the Scottish Fingerprint Service Glasgow bureau to the criminal justice system.

Forensic Science

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its assessment is of the impact of non-numeric fingerprinting evidence on the incidence of challenges by defence attorneys to fingerprinting evidence presented by the Crown and what impact any increase in such challenges would have on the legal aid budget.

Cathy Jamieson: A non-numeric standard of fingerprint identification has not yet been adopted in Scotland. The most recent experience of the effect of the change to the non-numeric standard comes from England and Wales where that standard was adopted in 2001. This indicates that to date there has been no increase with regard to defence challenges to non-numeric based evidence.

Housing

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2121 by Ms Margaret Curran on 16 September 2003, what assessment it has made of reasons for the 16% fall in new housing association units built for rent from 4,570 to 3,839 between 2001-02 and 2002-03.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The number of completions in an individual year is largely determined by the nature of the projects approved for construction in previous years. Large or complex housing projects, especially when linked to a wider regeneration initiative, can often take over a year to be completed.

  In 2001-02, 4,865 housing association houses for rent were approved for construction. A significant proportion of these houses are due for completion this year rather than in 2002-03. The issue therefore is one of timing rather than any absolute reduction in the number of house completions.

Housing

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20674 by Iain Gray on 19 December 2001, what the out-turn in actual cash expenditure was in each of the last two years; what the (a) estimated actual cash expenditure and (b) allocation for expenditure under community ownership (wider regeneration) will be for each year to 2005-06, and how much of the Scottish Homes and Communities Scotland approved development programme funding was made available to housing associations and other registered social landlords in each year since 1992-93.

Ms Margaret Curran: The information requested, where available, is included in the following tables.

 Year  Scottish Homes/Communities Scotland Approved Development Programme  Expenditure (£ million)2001-02  225.4812002-03  219.606  

 Year  Scottish Homes Own Stock Capital Investment  Expenditure (£ million)2001-02  6.7732002-03  5.333  

 Year  HRA capital Allocations  Expenditure (£ million)2001-02  181.4002002-03  162.578  

 Year  HRA Usable Receipts  Expenditure (£ million)2001-02  74.2832002-03  114.294  

 Year  Non-HRA Spending  Expenditure (£ million)2001-02  41.5782002-03  Incomplete Information  

 Year  Rough Sleepers Initiative  Expenditure (£ million)2001-02*  20.3362002-03**  19.256  

  *Includes £2.590 million homelessness fund and £3.280 million Glasgow Hostels Fund.

  **Includes £14.432 million homelessness fund & £1.988 Glasgow Hostels Fund.

 Year  Empty Homes Initiative  Expenditure (£ million)2001-02  6.3522002-03  0.369  

 Year  New Housing Partnerships/Community Ownership  Expenditure (£ million)2001-02  66.0622002-03  90.493  

 Year  Housing Support Grant  Expenditure (£ million)2001-02  9.0292002-03  9.221  

 Year  Warm Deal/Central Heating Installation Programme Fuel Poverty  Expenditure (£ million)2001-02  30.7052002-03  37.823  

 Year  Capital Financed from Revenue  Expenditure (£ million)2001-02  80.3262002-03  131.273  

 Year  Housing Association Funding HA Rent & LCHO  Expenditure (£ million)1992-93  253.7581993-94  260.9271994-95  264.8781995-96  272.9801996-97  250.5321997-98  171.5091998-99  163.9911999-2000  171.7022000-01  181.0702001-02  193.4282002-03  191.240  

  Outturns for 2002-03 are estimated figures.

  Spending plans for community ownership (wider regeneration) in the period up to 2005-06 are contained in the communities chapter of the draft budget 2004-05. Allocations to councils and estimated expenditure will depend on councils’ proposals in developing housing stock transfers.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how the additional £10 million awarded to Communities Scotland will be allocated to achieve more affordable housing for people living in the highlands.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  This extra funding will be used specifically in rural areas and will be aimed at addressing the most severe supply problems. Communities Scotland will shortly open discussions with local authorities and others with a view to identifying potential projects for support.

Housing

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2796 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 30 September 2003, what funding has been awarded to (a) Scottish Homes and (b) Communities Scotland in each of the last 10 years, showing also the year on year percentage change.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her reply is as follows:

  The table shows Grant-in-Aid and Scottish Executive funding for Scottish Homes and Communities Scotland over the 10-year period 1993-94 to 2002-03. The table also highlights the funds directly invested in housing during that period.

  

 Scottish 
  Homes
 Year
 Grant-In-Aid
 %
 Direct 
  Housing Investment
 %


 
 £ 
  million
 
 £ 
  million
 


 
 1993-94
 320.2
 
 332.6
 


 
 
 
 1.4%
 
 -5.3%


 
 1994-95
 324.7
 
 315.0
 


 
 
 
 -9.2%
 
 0.0%


 
 1995-96
 294.9
 
 315.1
 


 
 
 
 -4.7%
 
 -2.6%


 
 1996-97
 281.2
 
 307.0
 


 
 
 
 12.0%
 
 -34.4%


 
 1997-98
 315.0
 
 201.4
 


 
 
 
 8.1%
 
 -4.6%


 
 1998-99
 340.6
 
 192.1
 


 
 
 
 -19.1%
 
 5.4%


 
 1999-00
 275.5
 
 202.4
 


 
 
 
 14.5%
 
 8.8%


 
 2000-01
 315.4
 
 220.2
 


 
 
 
 -44.6%
 
 -42.7%


 
 2001-02 *
 174.9
 
 126.1
 


 
 
 
 -87.8%
 
 -98.4%


 
 2002-03 *
 21.4
 
 2.0
 


 Communities
Scotland
 Year
 SE 
  Funding
 %
 Direct 
  Housing Investment
 %


 
 £ 
  million
 
 £ 
  million
 


 
 2001-02
 204.3
 
 109.9
 


 
 
 
 118.6%
 
 139.0%


 
 2002-03
 446.6
 
 262.7
 



  *The principal functions of Scottish Homes transferred to Scottish ministers on 1 November 2001.

Maritime Issues

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support the campaign Sea Vision UK: Promoting our Maritime Future.

Nicol Stephen: Scottish Executive officials have met with representatives of the Sea Vision UK campaign and been briefed on its plans to promote the maritime sector in Scotland. The Executive was also represented at the first meeting of Scottish partner organisations in July. The Executive supports the objective of Sea Vision UK to raise awareness of the maritime sector and to generate interest in the career opportunities available.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and which, police forces have participated in awareness training in attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder and how many in each force attended the training.

Cathy Jamieson: All new entrants to the Scottish Police Service (and British Transport Police based in Scotland) attend the Scottish Police College for an initial training course, of 15 weeks’ duration. Training on mental health issues includes recognition of attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder and on dealing appropriately with sufferers of the disorder. One of the course modules deals specifically with the difficulties that may be experienced by police officers when interviewing a witness or suspect who may be suffering from this type of disorder.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether awareness training in attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder is offered routinely as part of the Scottish Prison Service training programme and, if so, how many personnel have participated and from which areas of the service.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Such awareness training is not offered routinely to Scottish Prison Service staff.

Parenting

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when Scottish fathers will have the same parental rights and responsibilities as unmarried fathers in England, under the Adoption and Children Act 2002, to jointly register the birth of their child with the mother.

Cathy Jamieson: Unmarried fathers are able to jointly register the birth of a child with the mother. However, this does not automatically give the father parental rights and responsibilities in relation to the child. These can be secured by marrying the mother, completing a parental responsibilities and parental rights agreement, or through court action.

  The white paper, Parents and Children, published in 2000 included a proposal to confer parental rights and responsibilities on unmarried fathers who jointly register the birth of a child with the child’s mother. This proposal commanded widespread support.

  The Executive has made a commitment in the partnership agreement to reform family law for all of Scotland’s people and we will bring forward legislative proposals in due course.

Rail Safety

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what aspects of safety criteria contained in the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 1994, (a) are covered by the existing and (b) will be in the new Scottish rail passenger franchise.

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are currently in place as part of the Scottish rail passenger franchise to ensure that Scotrail complies with the safety criteria contained in the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 1994.

Nicol Stephen: Under Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998, railway safety is a reserved matter. The successful bidder of the new franchise will be subject to GB-wide standards that regulate and enforce railway safety, as is the current franchisee.

  Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 1994 have since been superseded by the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 2000.

Rail Safety

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government in respect of the measures that Scotrail has taken to implement those safety criteria, contained in the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 1994, that have been enhanced since the Health and Safety Executive report and recommendations following the Ladbroke Grove rail crash.

Nicol Stephen: Under Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998, railway safety is a reserved matter. This is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive who is the independent health and safety regulator for a range of industries including rail.

  Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 1994 have since been superseded by the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 2000.

Rail Safety

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what penalties are currently in place under the Scottish rail passenger franchise for any breaches of the safety criteria contained in the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 1994.

Nicol Stephen: Under Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998, Railway Safety is a reserved matter. The current franchise holder is subject to GB-wide standards that regulate and enforce railway safety.

  Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 1994 have since been superseded by the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 2000.

Rail Safety

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what penalties for any breaches of the safety criteria, contained in the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 1994, have been incurred by ScotRail under the current Scottish rail passenger franchise.

Nicol Stephen: Under Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998, Railway Safety is a reserved matter. I understand that ScotRail have not incurred any penalties in relation to the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 2000 which superseded the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 1994.

Recycling

Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of household waste was recycled in (a) Scotland and (b) the City of Edinburgh Council area in each year from 1985 to 1995.

Ross Finnie: The data that are available are set out in the following tables.

  Controlled Household Waste Arisings and Recycling Figures for Scotland and

  Edinburgh District Council: 1985-1995

  

 
 Scotland


 Year
 Total 
  household waste collected (tonnes)
 Household 
  waste collected for recycling (tonnes)
 % 
  household waste recycled


 1985
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1986
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1987
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1988
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1989
 2,383,946
 n/a
 n/a


 1990
 2,334,044
 49,710
 2.13


 1991
 2,152,942
 61,600
 2.86


 1992
 2,197,026
 76,015
 3.46


 1993
 2,227,812
 85,479
 3.84


 1994
 2,408,026
 99,611
 4.14


 1995
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a



  


 Edinburgh 
  District Council


 Year
 Total 
  household waste collected (tonnes)
 Household 
  waste collected for recycling (tonnes)
 % 
  household waste recycled


 1985
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1986
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1987
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1988
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1989
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1990
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1991
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1992
 101,755
 6,596
 6.48


 1993
 139,284
 8,136
 5.84


 1994
 162,669
 7,702
 4.73


 1995
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a



  Notes:

  1. n/a - figures not available.

  2. In these tables, household waste collected for recycling is a combination of waste collected for recycling from households, civic amenity sites, council collection banks and voluntary organisations.

  3. The source for the information in these tables is Scottish Office Statistical Bulletins on "Waste Collection, Disposal and Regulation Statistics". The bulletins for 1992,1993 and 1994 have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. numbers 30151, 30152, 30153).

Regulation of Care

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to underpin and augment financial support for home-based respite care in north and west Sutherland.

Mr Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-4225 on 3 December 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Road Safety

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it assesses the value for money of its safe driving campaigns related and driving with excessive speed or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Nicol Stephen: Road safety campaigns are rigorously researched and developed on the basis of research evidence. Campaigns are evaluated in terms of awareness levels to ensure that the road safety message is reaching its intended audience. Long-term changes in public attitudes and driving behaviour relating to the campaign are also evaluated regularly, and statistics are produced to measure progress towards achieving programme for government casualty reduction targets. Value for money can be assessed through comparing the costs of running the road safety awareness campaign with the estimated costs of a fatal road casualty (£1,249,890 at 2002 prices).

Road Safety

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much its (a) festive and (b) summer road safety campaigns cost and how much police time was devoted to each campaign, in each of the last three years.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive provides funds to the Scottish Road Safety Campaign for the production of key road safety education initiatives and publicity campaigns. The campaign arranges publicity to complement enforcement campaigns undertaken by police forces in Scotland.

  Information relating to police time is not held centrally. Campaigns are generally designed round core policing functions and do not require officers to be dedicated to dealing solely with campaign issues.

  The table indicates the cost of publicity arranged by the Scottish Road Safety Campaign associated with (a) festive and (b) summer safety campaigns run by police forces in Scotland in the years 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03.

  

 Year
 Festive Safety
 Summer Safety


 2000-01
 £59,324.94
 £24,981.68


 2001-02
 £135,966.52
 £115,171.74


 2002-03
 £124,171.39
 £106,374.49

Road Safety

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review its annual road safety campaigns.

Nicol Stephen: All road safety campaigns are continually reviewed by the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Road Safety Campaign. Independent research and evaluation is commissioned to track long term changes in attitudes and behaviour relating to driving amongst target audiences. Awareness of campaigns is tracked and evaluated, before and after periods of campaign activity, to measure how messages are being received. All of this information is used to provide insight into the future development of the campaign strategy.

Roads

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on reducing noise pollution on trunk roads that run through residential areas.

Nicol Stephen: For new roads, the Scottish Executive will assess predicted noise emissions and, where appropriate, devise a strategy for attenuation or insulation of affected properties. The eligibility to be insulated if a property is adjacent to a new or improved road is assessed on the first, fifth, tenth and fifteenth anniversary of the road opening or re-opening. There is not a programme for the improvement of noise around existing roads, however modern materials emit less noise than traditional surfacing and therefore improvements can normally be anticipated when worn out sections are resurfaced.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister was due to officially open the Arisaig bypass section of the A830; on what date or dates it had been planned for him to officiate at the opening; whether he will officiate at the opening ceremony on a future date; and when the Executive will announce any decision on the upgrading to twin track of the remaining single track section of the A830.

Nicol Stephen: I am exploring the possibility of attending a ceremony in the spring to acknowledge the achievement of constructing the recently completed section of the A830 between Arisaig and Kinsadel. The First Minister has not planned to attend.

  Planning for the improvement of the section of the A830 between Arisaig and Loch Nan Uahm is continuing. If good progress is made on resolving environmental impacts, draft orders will be published in the spring.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why the draft Water Services (Scotland) Bill does not contain provisions to promote greater water conservation similar to those in the Water Act 2003.

Ross Finnie: Section 1 of the Water (Scotland) Act 1980, as amended by the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, places a duty on Scottish Water to promote the conservation and effective use of water resources throughout Scotland. In addition to this, section 51 of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 contains a general duty on Scottish Water to exercise its functions in the way best calculated to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.

  In the light of these duties, the Executive does not consider that further provisions on water conservation are necessary.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what contracts or other documents have established the legal relationship between Scottish Water and Scottish Water Solutions Ltd and whether such documents will be made publicly available.

Ross Finnie: This is an operation matter for the Chief Executive of Scottish Water and I have asked him to write to you about this matter.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the remuneration is of each director of Scottish Water Solutions Ltd.

Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for the board of Scottish Water and they have been asked to write to you about this matter.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water Solutions Ltd is required to lay an annual report before the Parliament.

Ross Finnie: Annual accounts for Scottish Water, which are laid before Parliament, will reflect the activities of Scottish Water Solutions Ltd.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what external and independent advice was received by Scottish Water when shortlisting bidding consortia during the process leading to the establishment of Scottish Water Solutions Ltd.

Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for the Chief Executive of Scottish Water and I have asked him to write to you about this matter.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on other jurisdictions where water utilities have entered into relationships with the private sector similar to that between Scottish Water and Scottish Water Solutions Ltd.

Ross Finnie: None. The Executive is aware of some countries around the world where like Scotland – the provision of water and waste water services has remained in the public sector. Some water utilities have entered into joint venture relationships for delivery of capital programme, however, within the water industry this arrangement is unique in its partnering approach.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers the Auditor-General has to examine how Scottish Water Solutions Ltd manages its finances to ensure that it achieves value for money.

Ross Finnie: The Auditor General, in accordance with section 23 of the Public Finance and Accountability Scotland Act 2000, may initiate an investigation into any aspect of Scottish Water’s activities, provided he consults the Water Industry Commissioner.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the constitution of Scottish Water Solutions Ltd will be made public.

Ross Finnie: This is the responsibility of the Chief Executive of Scottish Water. I understand that, in accordance with the Companies Act 1985 as amended, the document you seek is in the public domain and available from Companies House at www.companies-house.gov.uk.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms will be established to monitor the 1,500 projects to be commissioned by Scottish Water Solutions Ltd.

Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for the Chief Executive of Scottish Water and I have asked him to write to you about this matter.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water will be able to establish further joint ventures such as that with Scottish Water Solutions Ltd if the Draft Water Services (Scotland) Bill is enacted.

Ross Finnie: The draft Water Services (Scotland) Bill has no bearing on Scottish Water’s power to enter into joint ventures as provided for by section 25 of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken by Scottish Water to reduce the levels of trihalomethanes in drinking water supplies.

Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for the Chief Executive of Scottish Water and I have asked him to write to you about this matter.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the former water authorities would have been prevented by legislation from establishing a joint venture such as that with Scottish Water Solutions Ltd, prior to the enactment of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002.

Ross Finnie: It would have been for the former water authorities to determine whether any joint venture complied with the powers and duties placed upon them under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 and by all other legislation.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a review of access to water and waste services is being carried out as part of work being undertaken for the Clyde waterfront development project and what steps will be taken to deal with any development constraints in the context of Scottish Water’s Quality and Standard III process.

Ross Finnie: The Clyde waterfront development project is an overall strategy which is made up of a wide number of individual projects. While the issue of access to water and waste water services has been recognised at the development project level, it would only become a factor for detailed consideration at an individual project level. Detailed work on individual projects has not started.

  In relation to development constraints, I refer the member to the answer given to S2W-3242 on 4 November 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why the Procurator Fiscal decided to take no further action on the report submitted to him in respect of an alleged breach of section 76C of the Water (Scotland) Act 1980 by Scottish Water in North Ayrshire on 16 April 2002.

Colin Boyd QC: In any case reported to a Procurator Fiscal, a decision will be made in the public interest whether to prosecute or take alternative action, including taking no proceedings. It is an important feature of our criminal justice system that Procurators Fiscal make decisions independently and in the public interest. This prosecutorial independence is enshrined in the Scotland Act.

  The decision in this case was taken after consideration of all of the circumstances of the case and consultation with the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland. I understand that procedures were introduced by Scottish Water very quickly after this incident which should avoid future incidents of this kind.

Skye Bridge

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Skye Bridge Ltd has made a direct formal request to treat the sum outstanding on the Skye Bridge contract as commercially confidential.

Nicol Stephen: No. We are currently examining in detail all of the financial information relating to the Skye Bridge project. This information, and the detailed terms of the contract itself, are now the subject of commercially confidential negotiations with Skye Bridge Limited, with a view to ending the discredited toll regime for the Skye Bridge.

Speech and Lanaguage Therapists

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many speech and language therapists have been employed in each NHS board area in each of the last three years.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information on numbers (headcount and whole time equivalent) of speech and language therapists drawn from the last four workforce censuses is shown in the table.

  Speech and Language Therapists by NHS Board

  Headcount and Whole Time Equivalent: at 30 September 2000-2002 and 31 March 2003

  

 
 Speech 
  and Language Therapists


 NHS Board
 H/count  
 WTE  


 
 30-Sep-00
 30-Sep-01
 30-Sep-02
 31-Mar-03
 30-Sep-00
 30-Sep-01
 30-Sep-02
 31-Mar-03


 Argyll and Clyde
 62
 66
 71
 78
 53.7
 56.2
 61.4
 66.6


 Ayrshire and Arran
 49
 54
 60
 56
 41.7
 45.8
 49.0
 47.8


 Borders
 19
 20
 22
 21
 16.7
 17.2
 20.0
 18.8


 Dumfries and Galloway
 26
 29
 26
 25
 22.2
 23.8
 22.8
 22.3


 Fife
 67
 50
 52
 53
 51.6
 40.1
 41.1
 42.4


 Forth Valley
 53
 54
 52
 60
 43.5
 43.3
 40.2
 46.2


 Grampian
 101
 96
 108
 108
 78.9
 74.4
 84.1
 82.0


 Greater Glasgow
 155
 156
 168
 171
 136.3
 137.6
 143.8
 146.4


 Highland
 28
 33
 33
 34
 24.2
 28.4
 28.0
 28.2


 Lanarkshire
 100
 102
 112
 106
 89.7
 90.3
 99.4
 94.8


 Lothian
 148
 143
 151
 156
 117.9
 112.9
 118.8
 120.5


 Orkney
 4
 3
 4
 4
 2.7
 2.4
 2.7
 2.7


 Shetland
 3
 3
 3
 3
 2.7
 2.7
 2.7
 2.7


 Tayside
 66
 66
 66
 70
 56.6
 57.3
 57.2
 59.5


 Western Isles
 6
 7
 7
 9
 6.0
 7.0
 7.0
 8.5


 Scotland
 887
 882
 935
 954
 744.4
 739.6
 778.2
 789.5



  Sources: National Manpower Statistics from payroll, ISD Scotland.

  Notes:

  1. The WTE figures adjust the headcount figures to take account of part-time staff.

  2. Figures at 31 March were published for the first time in 2003 so are not available for previous years.

  3. This census is now published every six months.

Sport

Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to send a letter of congratulations to the English team on their result in the Rugby World Cup final in light of the impact on Scottish rugby.

Mr Frank McAveety: The First Minister opened the Cabinet meeting on 26 November by placing on record his and his cabinet colleagues’ congratulations to the English team. I have no plans to write but I would take this opportunity to offer my congratulations to Clive Woodward and his squad on their well-deserved victory in the final of the Rugby World Cup. I am sure that their victory will provide added incentive for the other rugby teams in the forthcoming 6 Nations championship.

Student Finance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on increasing the income threshold at which students repay their graduate endowment/student loan.

Mr Jim Wallace: The partnership agreement contains a commitment to support a higher threshold for the repayment of student loans across the UK. There is no income threshold for paying the graduate endowment although graduates can meet their liability by adding the amount to their student loan account.

Student Finance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any issues regarding the payment of NHS student bursaries to recipients and, if so, what these issues were and what actions were taken to resolve them.

Mr Andy Kerr: There was an issue with the November NHS student nurse bursary payments being paid four days later than planned. The problem arose as a result of us processing an unusually large volume of transactions through our central payment system. Once we discovered the problem, we took urgent steps to accelerate the processing of the bursaries. We have reviewed procedures to minimise the risk of any reoccurrence.

Teacher Training

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will issue a policy document with regard to teacher training covering special educational needs.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive set out its policy on special educational needs in the document, Moving Forward! Additional Support for Learning , published in January 2003. This includes its support for the training of teachers working with pupils with special educational needs. This document can be accessed on the Executive’s website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/education/mfas-00.asp.

  The Executive’s current review of initial teacher education (ITE) will include consideration of the contribution ITE can make to preparing student teachers for working with pupils who require additional support for learning. The review group is due to report to ministers by the end of March 2004. Any proposals for change will be announced thereafter.

  The Executive has put in place a framework for the continuing professional development of teachers, which includes inclusion and equality issues. We are providing £8.4 million per year to support the development and training of teachers and staff working with pupils who require additional support.

  In addition, we are preparing draft regulations on specialist qualifications for teachers working with pupils with additional support needs and will consult on these in early 2004.

Tourism

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to announce the outcome of the review of the area tourist board network.

Mr Frank McAveety: The ministerial group on tourism has been taking an in-depth look at the current state of Scottish tourism including the overall public expenditure on tourism and related services. The area tourist board review is being considered in the context of these wider issues. I, and my ministerial colleagues, are taking the time to get the right support structure, so we can achieve our long-term vision for Scottish tourism. It is hoped that an announcement on the outcomes will be made in the near future.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Scottish Parliament Expenditure

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S2W-3630 by Robert Brown on 12 November 2003, what the Standards Committee budget was for 2002-03, broken down by function, and what the actual expenditure was against each item.

Robert Brown (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body: : The budget for the Standards Committee for 2002-03 was £119,600. This was divided into SPCB payroll costs and other costs (which includes travel, expenses and advisers to the committee). The expenditure on SPCB payroll was £97,400 and the expenditure on other costs was £10,200. This includes the costs to employ an adviser to the committee from March 2002 to January 2003. The actual expenditure of the Standards Committee was £12,000 under budget for that financial year.

Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S2W-3630 by Robert Brown on 12 November 2003, when the Standards Committee confirmed that no assistance, or further assistance, for the acting Parliamentary Standards Commissioner would be sought in respect of the extension of his contract beyond 31 March 2003.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S2W-3630 by Robert Brown on 12 November 2003, what consultation was undertaken with the Standards Committee regarding the extension of the acting Parliamentary Standards Commissioner’s contract; who was involved in any such consultation process; when it took place, and what record of such consultation is available.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S2W-3630 by Robert Brown on 12 November 2003, what the procedure was for extending the acting Parliamentary Standards Commissioner’s contract; who was involved in the process, and whose approval was required for the extension.

Robert Brown (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): The acting Commissioner was appointed by the SPCB on 31 January 2003. The terms of the contract stated that he would continue to act as the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner in relation to the complaint or complaints which were outstanding at 1 April 2003 until the Standards Committee had confirmed that no assistance or further assistance would be sought from him. When the Parliament went into dissolution on 31 March 2003 there was one outstanding complaint under investigation and the acting Commissioner duly reported on that matter to the Standards Committee at the earliest opportunity in session 2. The Standards Committee completed its consideration of this complaint with the publication of a committee report at the conclusion of Stage 3 of the complaints process on 7 October 2003. As at that date, no further assistance was required from the acting Standards Commissioner. The Standards Committee will be invited to confirm that position.

Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S2W-3630 by Robert Brown on 12 November 2003, whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will publish the acting Parliamentary Standards Commissioner’s contract.

Robert Brown (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): I refer Alex Neil to my answer to S2W-4304 on 9 December 2003. We would not normally publish terms of appointment for individuals. I can confirm that the general terms and conditions were identical to those published as part of the application pack for those applying for the permanent appointment and a copy of this has been placed in SPICe (Bib. number. 30158).

  In addition to the general conditions these particular terms of appointment also had a specific section on tenure and this was as follows:

  Your appointment as acting Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is effective from 30 January 2003 until 31 March 2003. The purpose of your appointment is to fulfil the role of Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner until the permanent Commissioner takes up his role on 1 April 2003.

  From 1 April 2003 you will continue to fulfil the functions of Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner in relation to any complaint or complaints which are outstanding as at 1 April 2003 only. Any complaints lodged on or after 1 April 2003 will be passed to the permanent Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner. You will continue to act as the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner in relation to the complaint or complaints which are outstanding at 1 April 2003 until the Standards Committee has confirmed that no assistance or further assistance is required.

Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S2W-3630 by Robert Brown on 12 November 2003, who was involved in approving the budget to pay for the extension to the acting Parliamentary Standards Commissioner’s contract after 31 March 2003 and when the decision was taken.

Robert Brown (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): I refer Alex Neil to my answer to S2W-4304 on 9 December 2003 regarding the extension of the contract for the acting Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner. The budget for the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner and any acting Commissioner appointed by the SPCB is determined by the SPCB. Under the terms of his appointment, the acting Commissioner was paid on a salaried basis until 31 March, thereafter he was paid an hourly rate for work undertaken in relation to any outstanding complaints.

Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer,  further to the answer to question S2W-3630 by Robert Brown on 12 November 2003, whether the new Parliamentary Standards Commissioner was consulted about the extension of the acting Parliamentary Standards Commissioner’s contract.

Robert Brown (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): : I refer Alex Neil to my answer to S2W-4304 on 9 December 2003 regarding the extension of the contract for the acting Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner. Under the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Act 2002, it is for the SPCB to determine the terms of the appointment of the acting Commissioner.